Tools to Get Busywork Done Faster

There are lots of apps and software that make administrative work a little easier. Here are three that rise above the crowd.

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Administrative work sucks. Tracking down receipts, entering new contacts into your database, following up with people on deadlines they've missed weeks ago--these types of tasks are necessary, but could they be any more boring?

Thankfully, these business tools make administrative work and project management suck a little less.

TaskRabbit

For those basic tasks you just don't have time to do, you might want to check out TaskRabbit. It was one of the first companies to connect people who don't have time to run chores and errands with folks in their neighborhood who can do it for them (for a fee). TaskRabbit has since broadened its categories to more business-related tasks, such as research, data entry, even usability testing. All you have to do is post your job and how much you're willing to pay someone to get it done. Screened "TaskRabbits" bid to fulfill your task, and the lowest offer gets the job. Cost: Varies according to your task

Concur

I love Concur, because it makes managing your (and your employees') travel expenses so much easier. Instead of carrying around a wad of paper receipts (so 20th century!), you can just take pictures of them with your phone and attach them to your expense reports. Makes organizing a breeze. It even has a version that integrates with Salesforce! Cost: $8 per month for the small-business version

5pm

My marketing software company, VerticalResponse, just started using 5pm to manage our big product launch next year. There are a million moving parts to this project, and we liked 5pm because it gives us a bird's-eye view of deadlines and progress. We can also easily identify critical tasks and milestones. You can share notes and files, track your team's time if you need to, and use a bunch of other nifty features. Cost: Starts at $18 per month

Do you have any awesome administrative or project-management tools that you can't live without? Enlighten us!

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Janine Popick is the CEO and founder of VerticalResponse, a leading provider of self-service email and event marketing, online surveys, social media, and direct mail solutions. The company was ranked No. 1,771 on the 2011 Inc. 5000. @janinepopick